Sweepstakes casino bans by state

Sweepstakes casino ban timeline, 2025 to 2026

The ten bans came in two waves: five in 2025 and five in 2026. The table shows when each was signed or passed and when it took effect. Some states acted immediately on signing, while others gave operators months to leave. For how the underlying legal arguments work, see our explainer on sweepstakes casino laws, part of the wider US gambling laws section.

Maine’s exact start date is reported as July 14 or July 29, 2026 depending on the source, so we give it as July 2026.

Sweepstakes casino ban penalties and who enforces them

The bans differ most in their penalties. Some lean on civil fines through consumer protection agencies, while others raise criminal exposure. Here is what the recorded sources say for each state.

Maine’s fines go to the state’s Gambling Addiction Prevention and Treatment Fund, according to the Maine Gambling Control Unit release (opens in a new tab). New Jersey’s figures come from the enacted text of P.L. 2025, c.128 (opens in a new tab).

The 2025 sweepstakes bans: New Jersey to California

New Jersey moved first. Governor Phil Murphy signed A5447 on August 15, 2025, and it took effect at once. It makes pay-to-play and dual-currency sweepstakes unlawful gambling in a state that already licenses real-money online casinos.

Connecticut and Montana followed on October 1, 2025. Connecticut’s ban is Public Act 25-112, summarized by the Connecticut legislature’s research office (opens in a new tab). Montana’s SB 555 bars sweepstakes that mimic online casinos or sportsbooks and adds felony penalties.

California passed AB 831 by 79-0 in the Assembly on September 12, 2025. Governor Gavin Newsom signed it on October 11, 2025, and it applied from January 1, 2026. The bill page (opens in a new tab) shows a law with wide reach: payment processors, geolocation providers and affiliates are all covered.

New York closed the year with S5935-A, effective December 5, 2025. It bans operating, promoting or profiting from online dual-currency casino-style games with cash or cash-equivalent prizes.

The 2026 sweepstakes bans: Tennessee to Oklahoma

Tennessee signed SB 2136 on May 22, 2026, effective the same day, and gave enforcement to the attorney general under consumer protection law.

Indiana used HEA 1052 to add IC 4-33-10-7, which covers online dual- or multi-currency sweepstakes games that simulate casino, lottery or sports wagering. The conference committee report (opens in a new tab) sets the $100,000 penalty, and the ban applied from July 1, 2026.

Maine passed LD 2007 on April 6, 2026, with the ban in force from July 2026. It arrived in the same session as LD 1164, which legalized tribal-run online casinos; none of those had launched by October 2026, and a lawsuit is pending.

Louisiana got there on its second try. Governor Jeff Landry vetoed a 2025 ban, then signed Act 182 (HB 883) on May 15, 2026, effective August 1, 2026. It defines dual-currency casino-style games as illegal gambling by computer.

Oklahoma is the newest. SB 1589 was vetoed on May 11, 2026, the veto was overridden on May 14, and the law starts on November 1, 2026. It covers online casino games and dual-currency play, and a third-party summary reports liability for promoters and media affiliates.

Who sweepstakes casino bans target

These bans are written to cut off the business, not to chase individual players. Across the ten states, the recorded targets are:

• Operators running dual-currency casino-style games (every state).
• Payment processors and platform providers that help them take money (California, Louisiana, Oklahoma).
• Geolocation providers that confirm where players are (California, Oklahoma).
• Affiliates and promoters that market the sites (California; reported for Oklahoma).
• Licensed gambling companies that get involved, which risk their state licenses (Maine).

No ban in the sources sets a penalty for players, and California’s sources say directly that player liability isn’t addressed. That doesn’t make play in a banned state acceptable. Operators close or restrict accounts, and regulators in states like Michigan already treat these games as illegal without a ban. Our cease-and-desist letters page shows how enforcement usually starts.

How sweepstakes operators respond to bans

Operators usually update their excluded-states lists before a ban takes effect. Their own rules are the clearest record of where Sweeps Coin play has stopped. Some exits go beyond the ban states.

Exits also happen without a ban. VGW, which runs Chumba and LuckyLand, withdrew Sweeps Coins from West Virginia in November 2025 as a company decision. Blazesoft brands such as Zula and Sportzino ended Sweeps Coin play in Illinois on June 5, 2026, and WOW Vegas did so on May 1, 2026, after the Illinois Gaming Board’s letters. Read the McLuck review, High 5 Casino review or Zula Casino review for each brand’s full list.

Vetoed, contested and failed sweepstakes bans

Not every attempt has stuck. Louisiana’s 2025 bill was vetoed, a third-party tracker says on June 12, 2025, before Act 182 passed a year later. Oklahoma’s governor vetoed SB 1589 too, but lawmakers overrode him within three days.

Nevada is contested. One trade source reports that its governor signed a ban, while another says SB 256 (2025) only raised penalties and required unlicensed operators to give up profits. Until the text is confirmed, we don’t count it.

Other bans failed outright: Texas SB 517 passed the Senate in 2025 but stalled in the House, Arkansas SB524 died in 2025, and Florida’s 2026 bills died. Pennsylvania HB 2801, Ohio HB 298 and DC’s B26-0656 were still pending in October 2026. Our which states ban sweepstakes casinos answer is updated as these change.

What to do if your state bans sweepstakes casinos

If you live in one of the ten states, or in Oklahoma ahead of November 1, 2026, the practical steps are simple.

1. Read the operator’s notice about your state, including the last date for Sweeps Coin play and redemptions.
2. Redeem any eligible Sweeps Coins before the cutoff, after completing the operator’s identity checks.
3. Download or screenshot your purchase and redemption history for your records.
4. Stop buying Gold Coin packages; they can’t be cashed out, as our Gold Coins answer explains.
5. Don’t give a false address or hide your location to keep playing. That breaks the rules and can void your balance.
6. If you notice that gambling has become hard to stop, use the break: the responsible gambling section lists free help, including 1-800-MY-RESET (1-800-697-3738).

Slot Madness and SlotoCash: offshore offers via our links

Our partners aren’t sweepstakes casinos, so no partner fits this topic directly, and a sweepstakes ban doesn’t make an offshore casino an approved alternative. Slot Madness and SlotoCash are offshore real-money casinos with no US state license: there’s no state regulator to complain to, no state protection of your balance, and the casino writes the terms. Several ban states also act against offshore sites, so check your state’s law first. Offers are for new players, 21+ (18+ where allowed), and terms apply.

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The terms shown when you sign up apply. Bonuses are slot-focused, table games are often excluded or weighted lower, and the house edge means you should expect to lose over time. We earn a commission from these links, and the order is commercial.

21+ (18+ where allowed). Every casino game has a built-in house edge, so over time you should expect to lose what you stake. Set a budget before you play and stop when it’s gone: responsible gambling tools and free help. Gambling problem? Call or text 1-800-MY-RESET (1-800-697-3738).